WWDJD?

After loading the bases in the first inning with nobody out, the Yankees failed to score. Cashing in those runs would have really put the reeling Indians on the ropes and likely led to victory. Why didn’t they score? Alex Rodriguez hit a medium length fly ball, but Derek Jeter hesitated and did not run. I can’t figure out why he didn’t score, and I’m kind of obsessed to find out why. And since they lost 1-0, and this was their best chance to score, what the hell, let’s figure it out.

Alex skied the ball to center, so Derek had plenty of time to find the ball, find Brantley, the center fielder, and get back to the bag to tag up. Replays show his foot on the bag in plenty of time to run. He broke hard for a few steps and pulled up, so his intention was to bluff and draw a throw. A terrible play for sure, but why? Brantley never had any intention of throwing home; he was going to let Jeter score and throw to third base. He was as surprised as I was when Derek pulled up short. Derek would have scored standing up.

Did he think Brantley had an amazing arm? Brantley certainly didn’t think Brantley had an amazing arm, since he wasn’t even going to throw the ball. Perhaps a bad scouting report? Probably not, since this is the fourth game of this series and they’ve seen the guy throw. Did he think the ball wasn’t deep enough? The ball was in the air forever. Its path was clear, and it was obviously deep enough. This wasn’t a tough read. Was he injured? He did leave later in the game with a calf injury, but if he was injured, I doubt he would have bluffed as he did. Was he being uber-conservative because there were no outs and Cano was on deck? That sounds a little more likely, but stupid nonetheless. You take the sure run every time.

Or maybe he’s an old player, easing his way into the early part of the game, not yet fully engaged and not ready to wrap his arms around the play as used to be his custom? Maybe he wasn’t ready to sprint. Maybe he hadn’t checked the outfielder’s depth. Maybe he wasn’t mentally prepared to make all the quick calculations that he needs to make to execute the seemingly simple play.

I still don’t know why he didn’t run. But I do know this: if winning is all you give a shit about, and scoring a run is on your mind the moment you get on base, there’s no way you don’t score there. There’s no way rookie Derek Jeter doesn’t score there. There’s no way 2009 Derek Jeter doesn’t score there. In 2011 though, he didn’t score and they didn’t win. He did share a laugh with the third base coach after he failed to score. I’d rip Cano for the same thing, so I formally announce a ripping here for Jeter. The baseball gods agree; they struck him down with that calf injury later.

Ah hell, OK, I made too much of that one stupid play, but it’s another agonizing game and this ended up being the deciding inning. I’m at a loss with this team and their inability to take what’s given to them. And to see it from Jeter is just so surprising. I thought his skills were gone, but that his mind was still there, still attacking the game the same way, but it’s probably not.

Losing like this just sucks the air out of the room.

If you want, we can do a similar breakdown of Brett Gardner’s bunt-out in the seventh. … On second thought, let’s just forget about that one.

A.J. Burnett was great in the loss. I’ve had AJ in two 1-0 losses and a 2-0 loss, and in a whole bunch of other losses too. I wouldn’t mind a Nova game. Or even an A.J. win. Teixeira hit it to the warning track in the eighth, but it never looked like a homer to me. It was a long out all the way. And then I think Bob Feller crawled out of his grave and struck out the side in the ninth.

***

Derek Jeter might miss some time. He already had no chance to get his 3000th hit on this homestand. If he sits out at least six of the next nine games, he will get it on the next homestand. So those of you who are trying to see it live in Yankee Stadium, there is some hope. I think if he plays straight through, he’ll get it next Monday in Cincinnati. And if he takes a week off, he’ll get it Wednesday June 29th at home versus Milwaukee.

yeah, that was a serious drag. i was pretty annoyed when jeter was having a little smirk about it. seriously, not a good sign. doesn't look like winning is goal number one anymore...i'm not that bummed about the injury. DL him and give us a surreal look at what life without jeter will be like....for better or for worse.

Francisco Cervelli on the season, after tonight's...whatever that was.

.191/.250/.298. Horrendous defense, can't throw me out. Can't even bunt. I can sort of almost begrudgingly deal with one of Cervelli or Nunez playing everyday. But if Jeter and Martin are going to (continue) to miss time, we need to pull the trigger on Montero. If we're willing to accept Cervelli behind the plate, we can no longer use the "bad defense" excuse for keeping Montero down in AAA. Jesus is coming, so fucking let him come.

It's Rickey Henderson's fault. With destination 3000 in view. Jeter decided that a Buster Fosse type collision would not be a wise choice. It should be further noted that Jeter wasn't wearing his Life Alert button in the event he fractured a hip.. ("Help, I've hook-slid, and I can't get up!") WWRD? Listened to Robbie Thompson who gave Jeter the "Don't give A-Rod another RBI" signal (cupped hand to groin).

Exactly, the big problem with Derek Jeter is that he just doesn't care very much about winning! It's vice and moral weakness infesting the whole team. [6] Good point about Rickey -- there's enough blame to go around.

[5] The problem isn't Jesus' "bad defense" -- I agree that shouldn't stand in the way of his ascension. The problem is that he isn't hitting.
But what about Romine? He has to be a big upgrade over Cervelli.

The Red Sox just traded some catching dreg to the Pirates for, well, I think it was nothing. Maybe $100. Wouldn't the Pirates have traded something -- a lefty reliever maybe -- for Cervelli?

Maybe Jeter knew his calf was sore in the first and didn't want to risk aggravating it by tagging up in the first. Seeing him not run really annoyed me, too. What really chaps my ass is not scoring a single @##$#@$ run with the bases loaded and no out with the 4,5,6 hitters due. sigh.

I had and have absolutely no problem with Derek not scoring in that situation. It was a medium/shallow fly ball. You just had the first three batters in the first inning reach base, you figure that that pitcher has nothing that night. Oh, and you've got Cano, probably the best hitter on the team this season, up next. Why risk a close play/collision with the chance of injury in such a situation? Nope. no ripping here. Now, the offense for the rest of the game, that's a different story.

[5][7] I've heard and read that Montero has a small motivation issue right now - a Hanley Ramirez problem, KG said. He thinks he's ready for the big leagues and so he's pressing and not taking the hitting too seriously in AAA.

[7] And good fucking lord, no. I'll say this again. Joe Girardi has never demonstrated any ability to successfully use *one* lefty reliever. He becomes a frantic mess when he has more than one. We cannot keep adding left handed relievers.